18th Infantry Regiment

Authorised 27 December 1923

A silver metal and enamel device 1 1/4 inches (3.18cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Azure, a saltire Argent, between in chief two arrows in saltire of the second armed and flighted Or, in fess the insignia of the 8th Army Corps in the Spanish War Proper and a bolo of the second hilted of the third, on a chief indented of the second a bend Gules between two fleurs-de-lis of the field. Attached below the shield a blue scroll inscribed IN OMNIA PARATUS in silver letters.

Civil War service is shown by the saltire cross from the Confederate flag. The crossed arrows represent the regiment's Indian campaigns; the old 8th Corps badge recalls service in the Spanish War and the bolo stand for operations in the Visayas during the Philippine Insurrection. In World War I the regiment was awarded two French Croix de Guerre with Palm and the French Fourragére for its part in the Soissons offensive of 18 July 1918 and the operations of early October 1918 around Exermont and Hill 240 in the old province of Lorraine. The chief bears the bend of the arms of Lorraine between the fleurs-de-lis of the arms of Sassions.

The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 27 Dec 1923. Coat of Arms

Authorised 24 April 1922

Azure, a saltire Argent, between in chief two arrows in saltire of the second armed and flighted Or, in fess the insignia of the 8th Army Corps (2d Division, 2d Brigade (solid white)); in the Spanish War Proper and a bolo paleways of the second hilted of the third, on a chief indented of the second a bend Gules between two fleurs-de-lis of the field. On a wreath of the colors an acorn Gules. IN OMNIA PARATUS (In All Things Prepared).

The regiment was organized in 1861 and was in the First Division of the 14th Corps, Army of Cumberland, during most of its operations during the Civil War, the badge of which was a red acorn. The prominent feature of the Confederate flag was the saltire cross. The crossed arrows represent the regiment's Indian campaigns; the old 8th Corps badge of the Spanish War recalls the Philippine service during the Spanish War and the bolo for the operations in the Visayas. In World War I the regiment was awarded the fourragére for its part in the Soissons offensive of July 18, 1918, and the operations of early October around Exermont and Hill 240 in the old Lorraine. The chief bears the bend of the arms of Lorraine between the fleurs-de-lis of the arms of Soissons.

The coat of arms was originally approved on 24 Apr 1922. It was amended on 10 Sep 1923 to correct the history. On 16 Apr 1924 it was amended to correct the wording of the blazon. The coat of arms was amended on 16 Feb 1939 to change the color of the acorn in the crest from Azure (blue) to Gules (red) and change the description accordingly.